Eye-forming machine



Nov. 14, 1944. A, J. ANDERSON 2,352,522

' EYE-FORMING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Andrew J. Anderson Nov. 14,- 1944. J, ANDERSQN 2,362,522

' EYE-FORMING MACHINE v 7 Filed July 6, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Andrew J. Anderson Nov. 14, 1944. A ER N 2,362,522

EYE-FORMING MACHINE I Filed July 6, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Andrew J Anderson Patented'Nov. 14, 1944 EYE-FORMING Andrew J. Anderson, Min lng v Appl'itcaitibn 2, serial N0. 449,88

Claims. v

My invention relates to machines for forming eyes or loops in m'etalrods and has for an object to provide a machine in which a closed loop may be formed in a rod and rod lie in parallelism.

An objectof theinvention resides in providing moving the work head through a predetermined angle in each cycle of operation thereof. 1

Another object of the invention resides invpro viding a machin in which bending of .the rod is procured in addition .to that procured bycthe work head to compensate for the spring back of the rod. a A still further object ofithe;invention resides in providing a feed device for feeding the rod to in which the ends of the desirable to-have the portion of the rod adjacent the eye lie-,in parallelism, considerable difficulty arises due to the springbackin the rod. Where.

the work head travels through 360, the rod will spring back upon release jfrom'the head with the portions-of the rodent of parallelism. The-pres a workhead for engagement with the rod and'in v th work head and'in causing further movement of the rod through'the actionof the feed device,- whereby the bendingof the rodfby the work head is augmented. r I r q 1 x An object of the invention resides in constructing the feed device witha rotatable guidemember driven through the movementsof the rod and adapted to bend the rod in addition to the bending produced bythe'workhead. v

Another object of. the invention resides in con-:v structing the feed device with a cam surface hav-' ing a high portion and a low portion and alongwhich the rod travels. and inproviding drivingv .means between the guide member and-rod to procurerotation of the rod and bending of the rod' through movement .of the guide member.

A still further object of the invention resides: in providing threads acting between the guide member and support therefor by means vof: which the rod is moved axiallywith reference to ,the work head, so that the eye is formed in a helix and the bent portion of the rod clears thevunbent portionvthereof. y g Other objects of the invention reside in: thenovel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described; v

In thedrawings: P t 1.: Fig. 1 is a planyiewofaneyeforming machineillustrating an embodiment of. my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevationalview ofzthestructure showninFig. 1. v x Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional view takenzon line 33 of Fig.11. v .5. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 1 and showing'the parts in'altered position;

. Fig. 5is a plansectional view taken on line 5'5 2. I J 6 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 4.; 4 i h Fig, 7 is a plan view of a device formed on the machine such as shown in. the other figures;

In the formation'of an eye in a rodi int f nii diate the" ends thereof and whereit becomes ent invention overcomes the viding a construction-inwhich the rod is rotated-through an angle of- 360 and the trailingend at thesame time rotated through an additional angle to causeth'e portions of the rod to. spring back-into parallelism when released -from the machine.,

lying one of the flanges The-lower flange of this l-beam is notched to fit difiiculty by 'pl'othe leading end of inventioncomprises a irame |ll which is provided with four legs H, l2, l3 and I4.) These legs: are constructed from "angle stock. The two legs I I and I4 are connected; together at their lower; ends .by meansv of a longitudinal frame member I5, while the legs Hand 13 are similarly connected together at theirclower ends by means ofa longitudinal frame member l6. j The upper endsof the legs I I and I4 have connected to them a longitudinal framemember I! in the form of a channel, while the legs l2 and l3 have similarly connected to them alongitudinal (frame ,member l8; also in the .form of-a channel. I Extending across thev twolegs II and. I2 at the same elevation asthe frame members ll, and I8 l-beam and which is arranged with its web overofithe legs' Hand l2.

the said legs, wherebythe parts may be secured together as shown. A similar transverse frame I g member 2| is attached to; theuppermost ends of the legs l3 and Min; the-same manner as the frame member l9 and at thesame elevation. The legs I l and I2 also elevationsomewhat above the frame members l5 and IS a transverse frame member 22 which is in the form of a'channel andwhich overlies the coplanar flanges of; thelegs H and l2. For bracing the framework, two diagonal braces 23 and 25 are employed which .are secured to, the 1 legs |l= and I2 at; their-upper and lower ends and a which are also attached to an attaching plate 26. All of the frame members of the frame [0 may be welded togetheninaccordance with the usual practice or the same may be securedtogether by means v of bolts, rivets, or in any Othersuitable ma in r 'Myinvention includes a work shaft '21 which extends across 'thetwo transverse framemembe'rs' l9 and 2| and whichis journaled for rotation in two bearings 23 and 29 secured to the upper flanges of the, transverse"framemembers l9 and 2| by means of bolts 31.. v axial movement relativeto -the bearings28 and 29 byvmeans" oflcoll'ars 32v and 33, which are secured to 'said shaftfa'nd which abut against I the ends of said bearings. 1

is a transverse frame member lBwhich is inthe form of ane jh dt h a an 'This shaft is held from I facing 6| which is formed with a The shaft 21 is driven in the following manner: Extending across the transverse frame members l9 and 2| is a countershaft 34 which is journaled in two bearings 35 and 36 which are secured to the upper flanges of the transverse frame members l9 and 2| by means of bolts 31. This shaft, similar to shaft 21, is held from endwise movement by means of collars 38 and 39 which are attached to the ends of said shaft and which abut against the outer ends of the two bearings 35 and 36. The countershaft 34 is driven by means of a pulley 4| fast thereon. Thispulley may be belted to any suitable source of power. Also secured on the which meshes with a spur gear 43 rotatably mounted on the shaft 21. The gear 43 .is held from axial movement on the shaft 21 by means of a collar 44 secured to said shaft and engaging the hub 45 of said gear. The said gear has on the opposite side thereof another hub 46 which is counterbored to receive a collar 40 similar to the collar 44 and. which is also secured to the shaft 21.

The hub 46 is constructed to form a jaw 41 which'constitutes one of the elements of a jaw clutch indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 48. This jaw clutch includes a sliding clutch'member 49 which is splined to the shaft 21 and which is constructed with a jaw forming theother element of the jaw clutch 48. The clutch member 49 is formed with a groove 52 therein which receives two pins 53 projecting from a forked operating lever 54. Lever 54 is pivoted to a bracket 55 secured to the transverse frame member I9 by means of bolts 56. The lever 54 has an arm 51 extending outwardly beyond the bracket-55 by means of which the lever 54 may beswung to operate the clutch 48. The jaw clutch 48 is adapted to be moved into engagingposition by means of a spring I88 which is connected at one end to the extreme end of the arm 51 and at itsother end to a hook 89 mounted on a lug 9| secured to the transverse frame member I9. This spring tends to move the arm 51 in a clockwise direction and to throw the jaw 5| into engagement with the jaw 41. I

The shaft 21 extends outwardly beyond the frame member l9 and is formed with a reduced shaft end 58 which projects outwardly beyond a face plate 59secured to the end of the said shaft. This shaft end constitutes a mandrel about which the stock is wound. The face plate 59 carries a beveled or frusat the marginal portion thereof. The facing 6| is secured to the face plate 59 by means of screws 63 which extend through said facing and are screwed into the face plate proper. The face plate 59 has attached to it a pin t4 which is eccentrically situated with reference to the mandrel 58 and which operates upon the stock as will be presently more fully described. The face plate 59 and associated parts form the work head of the machine which is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 65.

The means for feeding the stock to the work head 65 includes a feed roller 66 which is mounted for rotation in the following manner: Issuing angularly upwardly from the transverse frame member 22 is a standard 61 which is formed at its upper end with an upright 68. The upright 68 is tubular in form and receives a post 69 which is slidable within said upright and also rotatable with reference to the same. The upright 68 has a number of circumferentially disposed holes 1| in it, while the post 69 similarly has a number of vertically disposed holes 12. A pin 13 may be tro conical surface 62 inserted in any of these holes'to hold the post 69 in adjusted position with reference to the upright 68. To brace the upright 68, a brace 14 is employed which is bent about the upright and which is bolted to the lowermost flange of the transverse frame member I9 by means of bolts 15. The standard 61 is provided with a stub shaft 11 which extends through the uppermost portion of the same and which projects outwardly therefrom. This shaft is held rigidly in position by means of a set screw 18 threaded into a boss 19 formed on said upright. The shaft 11 has a single thread 8| formed on it which is of a coarse pitch.

shaft 34 is a spur pinion 42,

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 11 is a roller 66 which is formed with a corresponding thread to engage the thread 8| Roller 66 serves as a guide forguiding the stock to the work head 65 and has. a cam surface along which the stock travels. This cam surface is lowest at the locality I05 and highest at the locality |06. The cam surface 85 may be made as a spiral or the same may be made as a surface of revolution with its axis eccentric as shown in the drawings. The roller 66 has formedin it a hole through which a cable 63 extends. A weight 84 is attached to this cable. This weight serves to-move the roller 66 until the hole 82 is lowermost. The hole in the roller 66 through which the shaft 11 extends is farthest from the circumference of the roller at the locality of the hole 82 or the high'portion I06 of the cam surface 85. When the hole 82 is lowermost, the portion I06 of the cam surface 85 of guide roller 66 is most remote from the axis of the shaft 21. The cam surface 85 is formed as'a groove in which the stock travels which is roughened or provided with serrations adapted toengage the stock, so that the said roller will not slip relative to the stock when the stock is fed into the machine. s 1 r The clutch 48 may be disengaged by means of the following construction which is best shown .in

Figs. 2, 4 and 5. Formed on the clutch member 49 is a cam 92 which has a volute cam surface 93. terminating in a plane surface 94. At the end of the plane surface 94 is provided a stop 95'; The cam 92 is carried by a hub 96 formed on the member 49 and may be constructed as part of a flange 91 integral with said hub- Operating in conjunction with the cam 92 is a cam follower 98 which is'preferably in the form of a roller rotatably mounted on a sliding rod 99. The rod 99 is guided for sliding movement in two guides ml and H12 which are secured I to the transverse frame member I9. A tie-rod I03 between' these guides holds the same in proper spaced position. The rod 99 is reduced in diameter as indicated at I04, where the same passes through the guide I02 which provides a shoulder I01 on said rod. A compression coil spring I08 acts between the guide 102 and the shoulder I111 and serves to urge the roller 98 upwardly. Pivcted to the lowermost end of the rod 99 is a link I09 which is also pivoted to one arm I of a bell crank I|2. .Bellcrank |I2 includes a shaft H4 best shown in Fig, 5, which is journaled in two bearings .I I5 secured to the transverse frame member 22. Collars H6, secured to the ends of the shaft II4, hold the bell crank from axial movement within the bearings H5. The bell crank I|2 includes another arm- I|1 which has pivoted to it a substantiall horizontally extend ing link I18. Link H6 is pivoted to an arm-H9 of another bell crank -|2.I which is journale'din a bearing I22 adapted to be secured to the floor on which the machine is placed. Bell crank 12! is provided. with afoot pedall23 by means ofwhich the bell rcrank Hllv may bemanipulated. A tension coil spring I24 is connected-:to the endof the arm Ill of bell crank H2 and also 11013118 bracket 55 supporting lever 54. This springraises thearm Ill and'ilink I09 and also holdsthe'bell crank [2| with the pedal I23 uppermost. .Itxwill readily be comprehended that when the pedal I23 is depressed, roller '98 is moved downwardly. and

- out of engagement with the cam 82. 8

While my improved invention may be .used. for

- portion 34 of cam surface 93, the .clutch has been disengaged andthe work head 65' comes to rest. The stop 95 prevents-over-travelof the shaft 21 and brings the work head 65 to rest at a predetermined position- During the rotation of the shaft 21,

' cam surface 85on said roller, the end 88 of the various dififerent purposes, I have shown in .Fig, 7

one device capable of being. madeon the machine. This device consists of a rod. 80:.whichis formed intermediate its endslwi-th. aloop or eye 81.).The

forward or leading endof the rod isindicated by the reference numeral 88;whiletherearward or trailing end of the rod is indicated by the reference numeralBB. .The device here shown has the ends .86 and 88 parallel to one another andlthe l eye 81 is closed. v

The method 'of operation ofmy invention i as follows: When the head 65 comes to rest; the

pin 64 occupies the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Theleading end 88 of rod Bilis then inserted a between the mandrel 58 and thel-pin-"M and projected outwardly beyond .the work head65, until the extreme end of the rod engages a, suitable stop not shown in the drawings. The rod'is then moved. down until thesame rests upon the low portion 105 of the camsurface 85iof roller-66. At" the same time, the end of the rod. is caused to bear against the surface 82 of the facing 6 I. of the work head 65. The position of the rod 80 when the machine is ready to start is best shown. in

.Figs. 1 and 3. The pedal l 23is next depressed which withdraws the roller 98 from engagement with the cam 92. This releases .the clutch member 49. Spring l88'now moves the lever 54in a clockwise direction. as viewed in'Fig.x1, which brings the clutch .jaw into engagement with the clutch jaw 41; Gear 43 now drives shaft 2! and the head 65 whichiscarried thereby. As soon as the shaft 21 commences to rotate, pedal 123 is released. Roller 98 now engages the. cam

92 upon the outward periphery and whenthe shaft 21'has rotatedsufiiciently, is raised intoia position back of the cam surface 93. v.As the head 65rotates, pin 64 carries the end 88 of. the rod 88'with it, causing the 'rodtoubecome wrapped about the mandrel 58 as indicatedat l-in Fig. ,6. As the rod is'beingawrapped about the mandrel -58,'the end 86 of the rodis drawninitoward the work head 65 to provide the material for forming the eye. During such movement, the rod'travels along the cam surface 85 and, due .to the serrations or roughening of this s'urface,'causes rotation of the roller 66. v moves the high portion I06 of the camsurface. 85 toward the stock, thereby raising the end 86: of

the stock. At the same time, the hole 82 travels upwardly and correspondinglythe weight 84 is raised. While the rolleror guide member 86 is rotating, the cam advances along the shaft 11 du'e'to the threads BI and shifts the stock out.- wardlyaway from the head 65. This causesthe bent portion I25 to form a helix whereby the end 88' of the stock may clear the end 88 when the "same approach each other as shown in Fig; 6. .As the head 65 rotates, formation of theeye con- Rotationv of ,said roller v rod 8Uhas also been rotated. As will be noted from Fig. 6, the end 88 of the rod has been rotated in a counterclockwise direction, while the end 86 has been rotated in a clockwise direction. This procures a total relative rotation between the two ends of the rod greater than-360, so that the spring back of the bent parts can be-conipensated for and the ends of the rod brought into parallelism when the work is removed from the machine At the same time, theroller' 66 has been moved axially-along the shaft'l'! due to the threads 8| and "has receded fromzthe head 65. This forms the-eye 81in a helix, so hat the trail ing end 86' of the rod 88 may clear the leading end 88. *When'the rod is'remove'd, weight 84' returns the roller to normal position as shown in 'Fig. 3. A r The advantages of my inventionare manifest; By means of the feed device used for feeding the rod into the machine, the rod can be bent through an angle greater than 360 by rotation of the work head through an angleof 360. Thus, the spring back of the stock can becompensated for. The-machine issimple in construction and positive in action. The operation of the machine is automatic, so that when the machine is started, the loop or eye is formed without effort on the part of the operator. The feed device of my -in-' vention produces the additional rotational movement of the stock and, in addition,'advances the stock axially relative to-the mandrel to form the eye into a helix, whereby the bent end of the stock may clear the unbent end and make a closed loop. A

' Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of What is'claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: '1. In combination, a rotatable work head, means for' rotating said head through a predetermined angle,' means'for feeding-stock to said head and including a guide member, means on said headforenga'ging the stock to cause bending thereof during rotation 'of' the head and means for moving said guide member to procure additional rotational movement of the stock in'a direction to augment thebending procured by said work head.

f2.-In--- combination, a-rotatable work head, means for rotating said head through a predetermined angle, means for feeding stock to said head and including a guide member having a surface of revolution along which the stock travels, pivot means for rotatably supporting said ,guide tinues until the work head reaches its original position. When -the work head approaches this position, the roller Bil-engages the cam surface 93 and forces the member 49 outwardly and away from the gear 43. When the roller reaches the posed relativeto the surface of the guide'member, means on said head for engaging the leading end of the stock to procure rotational movement thereof in one direction and movement of the trailing-end of the stock toward the head, said ;movement'of the trailing end of the stock caus ing rotation of the guidemeans and rotational movement of the trailing end of thestockin the o posite ir c o v I f '3. In combination, 'a rotatable work head, means for rotating said head through a predetel-mined angle, amandrelaxially disposed relative to said head, means for'feeding stockto said head in a direction tangent to the mandrel, said means including a'rotatable guide member hav-. ing a cam surface along which the stock travels, said guide member being situated on the side of the stock opposite the mandreLengaging means on said head for engaging the leading end of the stock and bending thesame about the mandrel, said means causingmovement of the trailing end-of the stock toward the mandrel, the stock during such movement rotating the guide member to advance the high portion of the surface of the cam toward the stock.

4. In combination, a rotatable work head, means for rotating said head. through a predetermined angle, a mandrel axially disposed relative to said head, means for feeding stock to said head in a direction tangent to the mandrel, said means including a rotatable guide member having a cam surface along which the stock travels, said guide member being ituated on the side of the stock opposite the mandrel, said cam surface being movable toward and from the mandrel upon rotation of the guide member, engaging means on said head for engaging the leading end of the stock and bending the same about the mandrel, and means for rotatingsaid guide member during the movementoi said head to rotate the trailing end of the stock about the mandrel in adirection opposite to the direction of the rotation of the leading end of the stock.

5. In combination, a rotatable work head, means for rotating said head through a predetermined angle, a mandrel axially disposed relative to said head, means for feeding stock to said head in a direction tangent to the mandrel, said means including a rotatable guide member having a cam surface along which the stock travels, said guide member being situated on the side of the stock opposite the mandrel, engaging means on said head for engaging the leading end of the stock and bending thesame aboutthe mandrel, serrations formed on said cam surface for engagement with the stock, said engaging means causing movement of the trailing end of thestock toward the mandrel, the stock during such movement being geared to the guide member and rotating the guide member to advance the hi h portion of the cam surface toward the stock.

6. In combination, arotatable work head, means for rotating said head through a predetermined angle, a mandrel axially disposed relative to said head, means for feeding stock to said head in a direction tangent to the mandrel, said means including a rotatable guide member having a cam surface along which the stocktravels', engaging means on said head for engaging the leading end of the stock and bending the same about the mandrel, said means causing movement of the trailing end of the stock toward the mandrel, the stock during such movement rotating the guide member to advance, the high portion of the cam surface of the guide member toward the stock.

and means for returning the guide member to a position with the low portion, of the cam surface adjacent the stock when the formed stock is removed irom the guide member.

7. In combination, a rotatable work head, meansfor rotating said head through a predetermined angle, to said head, means for feeding stock to said head in a direction tangent to the mandrel, said means including a rotatable guide member having a. cam

a mandrel axially disposed relative means for rotatmg said head through a predetere mined angle, a mandrelaxially disposed relative to said head, means for feeding stock to said head in a direction tangent to the mandrel, said means including a rotatable guide member having a surface along which the stojckltravels, a support for rotatably supporting said guide member, threads acting between said guide member and support for advancing said guide member axially in a direction away from the work head and means for returning said guide member to its original position.

9. In combination, a rotatable work head, means for rotating said head through a predetermined angle, means for feeding stock to said head and including a guide member, means on said head for engagingthe stock to cause bending thereof during rotation of the head and means for simultaneously moving said guide member to procure additional rotational movement of the stock in a direction to .angment the bending procured by said work head.

10. In combination, a rotatable work head, means for rotating said head through a predetermined angle, "means for feeding stock to said head and including .a guide member, means on said head for engaging the stock to cause bending thereof during rotation of the head and means for moving said guide member about the axis of said work head to procure additional rotational movement-oi the stock in a direction to augment the bending of the stock by said work head,

11. In combination, a rotatable work head,

means for rotating said headthrough a predate!" mined angle, a mandrel axially disposed relative to said head, means for feeding stock to said head in a direction tangent to the mandrel, said means including a rotatable guide member having a surface along which the stock travels, a support for rotatably supporting said'guide member, said guide member having a cam surface engaged by the stock, and rotated throughout a portion of a revolntionduring the feeding .of the stock to procure additional bending of the stock and means for returning said guide member to its original position. r

12. In combination, a rotatable work hand. means for rotating said head through a predetermined angle, a mandrel axially disposed relative to said head, means for feeding stock to said head in a direction tangent to the mandrel, said means including a rotatable guide member having a sun face along which the stock travels, a support for rotatably supporting said guide member, means acting between said guide member and support for advancing said guide member axially in a direction away from the work head and means for returning said guide member to its original position.

ANDREW J, ANDERSON 

